Key-guard



No. 609,898. 7 Patented Aug. 30, I898.

' J. E. 'MYERS.

K E Y 6 U A R D (Application filed Feb. 23, 1897. Renewed Feb. 24, 1898.) (N 0 M ed e avweMoz Jliflyers.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. MYERS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

KEY-GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters IPatent No. 609,898, dated August 30, 1898.

Application filed February 23 1897- Renewed February 24, 1898. Serial No. 671,540- (NO 1110681) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. MYERS, residin g at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Key-Guard, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to locks and latches, and more particularly to a device for securing the key within the lock and preventing the said key from being turned from the opposite side or from being pushed from the lock.

With these various objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction of the Various parts and in their novel combination or arrangement, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a view showing the practical application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device having the key attached thereto and showing the relative po{ sition of the key and fastener when in use. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4. is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4: of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the fastening-pin and nut.

In carrying out my invention I employa thin strip of metal A of sufficient thickness to be rigid, said metal strip being twisted at right angles at one end, as shown at A, which end is adapted to be inserted in the slot portion of the keyhole.

The body of the strip A is perforated at regular intervals, as shown at A and sliding upon the said strip is a clasp B, comprising two wings, pivoted together at B, arranged upon opposite sides of the strip A.

A spring 0 is arranged beneath one of the wings of the clasp for the purpose of spreading the rear ends and forcing the forward ends toward each other. The upper wing is made slightly longer than the lower one and carries a locking-pin D, the lower end of said pin being adapted to engage the perforations A and the shoulder or collar D! prevents the said pin being passed too far through the perforation. A nut E is fitted upon the'upper end of the pin D, and is also limited in its downward movement by the said collar D.

The device herein described can be used in connection with any of the locks now in use, inasmuch as the clasp can be adjusted longitudinallylupon the metal strip,whichfits inthe keyhole, so as to bring the pin and nut 0pposite the bow of the key.

In operation the key is turned so that the bow rests horizontally, as shown in the drawings, and the fastener is then inserted in the keyhole in such a manner that the end A prevents the key being moved. The clasp is then adjusted so as to bring the nut and pin beneath the bow of the key, and the nut is then secured at right angles to the said bow, so that it cannot possibly become displaced,

and the rear end of the fastener is thereby supported. It will thus be seen that it will be impossible to either push the key out of the lock or turn said key in either direction. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is l A key-fastener composed of a fiat metal strip having a twisted end at right angles to the perforated bodyportion, and a clasp sliding on the body portion, said clasp carrying a pin adapted to fit in any one of the perforations and provided with a collar, and a nut fitting on the pin for holding the bow of the key between it and the collar, substantially as shown and described.

JNO. E. MYERS. Witnesses:

CLARENCE HOGAN, J 0s. G. MYERS. 

